NORTHERN Marianas Technical Institute Chief Executive Officer Agnes M. McPhetres is confident that the U.S. Economic Development Administration will approve NMTI’s $10 million grant application for the construction of a new campus in Koblerville.

IN the opening scene of “The Kingmaker” — the latest entry in documentarian Lauren Greenfield's exploration of how the super-wealthy live — Imelda Marcos steadily flicks note after note of Philippine pesos out of her car window, bedraggled children politely accepting with a thank you.

MANILA (Philippine Star) — Human rights groups may find it hard to believe, but lately the Philippine National Police has been exercising tolerance in dealing with drug suspects. This, however, is about to change in 2020, according to the PNP officer-in-charge.

HONG KONG (Reuters) — Hong Kong will end 2019 with multiple protests planned for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day aimed at disrupting festivities and shopping in the Asian financial hub, which has seen a rise in clashes between police and protesters since Christmas.

MANILA (Reuters) — The death toll from a Christmas typhoon that tore through the central Philippines rose to 28 on Friday, with 12 people missing, the disaster agency said, as authorities moved to restore power and residents tried to repair damaged homes.

(Press Release) — After months of discussion among boaters on Saipan, a new association has been formed to promote both recreational and commercial boating in all its forms. The Saipan Boaters Association will soon be chartered as a non-profit corporation.

THE over a dozen participants in the 20th Annual Christmas Bird Count of the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s on Dec. 18 observed 2,343 birds and 48 endemic and migrant species on Saipan, DFW ornithologist Emilie Kohler said.

THE Chinese individuals who have been staging demonstrations on Saipan in support of the pro-Democracy protest in Hong Kong are asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to “watch out” for Chinese Communists who have been spying on them.

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Around 11 p.m. Friday, DeAndre Barcinas was out by Paseo when he and some friends saw a flash of light streaking across the sky. Officials first called it a meteorite but later noted that a Chinese test launch of a satellite had been reported.

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — For the man who created the group that brought more than a hundred more hospital beds with the construction of Guam Regional Medical City, building a new and sustainable public hospital could work — but there first has to be a solid business and management plan.

IN 2010, the U.S. electorate responded to the overreach of the Obama administration — on health care, but not only on health care — by giving Republicans control of the House in 2010 and then the Senate in 2014.

THE Blue Eagles continue to sit at the top of the food chain in the Open Division of the United Filipino Organization and IT&E Basketball League after outlasting Islander Rent A Car, 81-76, on Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada gym.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) — A firm run by the daughter of Bruce Lee has sued a Chinese fast food for using the late kung fu star’s image in its logo without permission and is seeking over 210 million yuan ($30 million) in compensation, Chinese media outlet The Paper reported.

(DPS) — On Tuesday, Dec, 24, 2019, at about 8:10 p.m., Department of Public Safety police officers were conducting routine patrol in Dandan when an individual flagged them down. The individual reported a burglary and theft incident that occurred at his son’s home.

(Press Release) — The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s registration for beginner and intermediate ukulele class is ongoing. The class is for children 8 years or older and adults. The total cost for eight class sessions. Classes are held at JKPL in partnership with ukulele instructor Larry Lee. The first session is set to begin on Jan 7, 2020, and will be held every Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

CHINESE demonstrators expressing support for the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday were attacked by fellow Chinese nationals in Garapan. Four of the victims were then arrested by the police, the demonstrators told Variety.

NORTHERN Marianas College Interim President Frankie Eliptico on Thursday said NMC will receive $21.9 million from the Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education or IHE program of the U.S. Department of Education.

ASKED for an update regarding the autopsy on the two women who were fatally shot inside a restaurant in San Antonio on Dec. 16, 2019, the Department of Public Safety said it is still waiting for the go-ahead from the Office of the Attorney General.

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Roxanne Hocog was all smiles after she was spared from having to serve anymore time in prison for her part in a major contraband scheme uncovered at the Department of Corrections in 2017.

(DPS) — On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at about 2:42 p.m., the CNMI Department of Public Safety received a 911 call reporting a theft in progress taking place along Flame Tree Road, in As Lito. Police were dispatched to the scene.

THE Office of Planning and Development has applied for a $2 million federal grant to fund the zoning office implementation of Saipan Local Law 20-25 or the Nuisance Abatement and Blighted Property Maintenance Act of 2018, OPD Director Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong said.

(MVA) — In preparation for higher visitor arrivals during the holiday season, the Japan Saipan Travel Association or JSTA and its tourism partners conducted a cleanup of the main tourist district of Garapan, Saipan on Dec. 21, 2019.

(Press Release) — Almost 60 community members from the diverse ethnic groups of Saipan availed themselves of the recent free health screening at the San Antonio Parish Social Hall. The event was organized by the National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea-Marianas chapter, US Pinoys for Good Governance-Marianas chapter, BAYANi-Bayan Bago Sarili, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations-CNMI chapter and the Asian Community of the CNMI.

(Press Release) — As part of Green Meadow School’s plan for school year 2019-2020, its Parent Teacher Student Association organized campus cleanups on Nov. 23, 2019 and Dec. 21, 2019. These activities also allowed GMS to meet the health and safety requirements of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Child Care Development Fund program.

AS we have pointed out in the past, as the exclusive casino license holder on Saipan, Imperial Pacific International will and should be under constant scrutiny, and that has been the case even before it opened its “temporary” casino at DFS over four years ago.

MAJURO — In the wake of confirmed measles cases in Kiribati and Hawaii, as well as ongoing spread in many islands in the South Pacific, the Marshall Islands has tightened its measles prevention requirements for people entering and leaving the country.

McDONALD’S of Saipan held its annual employee appreciation night on Monday at Fiesta Resort & Spa. This year’s theme was “Denim and Diamonds,” and the performers were the employees of the Middle Road and Garapan branches themselves.

(MVA) — Christmas in the Marianas will celebrate its final night with a Mochitsuki Festival on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Paseo de Marianas in Garapan. The Mochitsuki Festival is an annual celebration in Japan marked by the pounding of “mochi” or glutinous rice in preparation for the new year.

Office of the Attorney General) — CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan is part of a bipartisan coalition of all 56 attorneys general in calling for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.

SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho has ruled that Eunice Jean Yurong Basa is the biological daughter of the late former Rep. Benjamin Ayuyu Sablan also known as Benjamin Kappon and an heir to her father’s estate.

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A federal criminal complaint was filed in the District Court of Guam against Richard A. Gapasin Jr. after he was found in possession of nearly three pounds of methamphetamine.

A DISPUTE between Imperial Pacific International and USA Fanter Corp. over construction costs is delaying the completion of the sewer system of the casino resort that will be connected to the wastewater treatment facility of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

A GROUP of vendors, including construction companies, on Thursday asked the Commonwealth Casino Commission on Thursday to take “disciplinary action” against Imperial Pacific International for not paying its bills.

(Press Release) — Triple J Saipan Inc. generously sponsored the venue for an evening of mentorship and delicious food for students from the Million Dollar Scholar or MDS program at Kagman High School, Marianas High School, and Saipan Southern High School.

(DPS) — On Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at about 6:03 p.m., the CNMI Department of Public Safety received a 911 call reporting a disturbing the peace incident taking place near the I Love Saipan store in Garapan. Police were dispatched to the scene.

(UOG) — The University of Guam and natural resource officials in Saipan and Rota exchanged expertise and challenges regarding watershed management last week during a workshop made possible from a National Science Foundation grant. The discussion helped to identify gaps in available resources and encourage more collaboration in management and restoration efforts in the Marianas.

THE Department of Public Safety said it is still investigating an auto-collision incident on Dec. 16 that left a man in a serious life-threatening condition. Three days later, the victim, Sergio Apostol, 62, died.

BLUE Hauz notched its second straight win in the Masters Division of the United Filipino Organization and IT&E Basketball League after washing out PPG Paint, 99-76, on Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.

(GMS) — Green Meadow School is proud to announce that for three consecutive months, its middle school students have won numerous top awards from various competitions such as the National Speech and Debate Association, Math Court, and Junior Thespians.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech has announced that Interior will provide $2 million to the government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to streamline financial management and coordination of disaster recovery funding across local agencies and organizations receiving federal assistance as a result of impacts from Typhoon Yutu.

TINIAN — Airman 1st Class Anthony Canlas once again sets another life milestone by graduating at the top of his class in technical school at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Tinian Jr./Sr. H.S. alumni Anthony Canlas is a Distinguished Honor Graduate in Air Force Technical School on December 18, 2019, four months after completing Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (U.S. Department of Education) — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has announced new federal assistance for students and schools in 13 states and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, Typhoon Mangkhut, Super Typhoon Yutu and other natural disasters in 2018 and 2019.

TWO individuals from the CNMI earned their commission as second lieutenants in the United States Army on Saturday, according to Lt. Col. Tom Anderson, professor of military science at the University of Guam.

REPRESENTATIVE Sheila Babauta asked former President Barack Obama about the planned relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam during the 2019 Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia Pacific Program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec. 13.

NOW that the teachers and principals will get half of their incentives, House Floor Leader John Paul Sablan and House Education Chairman Roman C. Benavente would also like to see the Public School System rebuild damaged classrooms.

COMMONWEALTH Healthcare Corporation Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna said the $120 million appropriated by the federal government for Medicaid is a temporary fix, and a long-term solution is still needed.

WHAT do Star Wars, sushi, K-pop, Confucius institutes and Bollywood all have in common? They are prime examples of soft power, a term that refers to a nation’s ability to affect other countries without the use of military or diplomatic coercion. Understanding soft power will go a long way in understanding how Pacific islands interact with the outside world.

CNMI and Philippine Basketball Association NLEX Road Warriors’ pro player Jericho Cruz dropped by at the ongoing United Filipino Organization and IT&E Basketball League tournament on Saturday to showcase his skills in an exhibition game and to receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

(Press Release) — The Lady Aces returned triumphant from Guam on Dec. 2, 2019 after participating in the 2019 Thanksgiving Hoopfest hosted by the Tamuning Typhoon Basketball Club and sponsored by the Tamuning Mayor’s Office and Bank of Guam.

(MVA) — The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands is lending its support to the Marianas Tourism Education Council in their work to educate students on the important of tourism and how they can be involved in the industry, even at a young age.

ON Saturday, December 14, 2019, five dedicated and valiant teams gathered at Marianas High School and participated in the first annual Extreme Raider Challenge hosted by Marianas High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Dolphin Battalion.

(MVA) — In line with the Marianas Visitors Authority’s Sports Islands promotion of the Marianas, the weekly Saipan Morning Run kicked off Friday, Dec. 13, and will be held every Friday at 8 a.m. in the main tourist district of Garapan. Saipan Morning Run is jointly organized by MVA and Pacific Development Inc.

(Press Release) — TanHoldings executives and employees toured select sites on the Garapan Heritage Trail early this month, capping the trip to the historical sites in the village with a donation to the NMI Museum of History and Culture.

DEPARTMENT of Lands and Natural Resources-Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Manny Pangelinan said the bill that would ban sunscreen products that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate is crucial to the preservation of CNMI marine life.

HOPWOOD Middle School principal, teachers, and students on Wednesday thanked Rep. Roman C. Benavente for the construction of a pavilion or pala-pala that students can use during their break time or outdoor activities on their temporary campus in Koblerville.

DIVISION of Fish and Wildlife Director Manny Pangelinan said since the imposition of docking and passenger fees on commercial boat operators in October, the operation of Smiling Cove Marina has been running smoothly.

(Press Release) — As part of Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s celebration of its 28th year serving the community and supporting local authors, the public is invited to the rare opportunity to meet, greet and chat with several local and published authors over the course of its three-day series of events.

ON April 1, 1983, Marianas Variety reported that a parent had filed a $1.5 million (equivalent to about $3.8 million today) lawsuit against Hopwood Junior High School and the medical officer who attended to her son.

(Press Release) — StayWell Insurance Saipan would like to announce that they will be holding a day-long open enrollment session event this Friday, December 20, 2019 at the Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is open to all CNMI government employees who wish to apply or learn more information about the StayWell CNMI Government Employee Personal Plan.